by Ambria Hammel PHOENIX (CNS) – The new year will be a brighter beginning for Terrance Alston. The 49-year-old, who spent enough years on the streets, is now fixing up his own home and mending family bonds. He attended his first big family dinner in 20-something years over Christmas, just days after moving from Phoenix […]
RIO DE JANEIRO (CNS) – Pope Francis has pledged a donation of almost $5 million to help pay part of the debt incurred by the Archdiocese of Rio de Janeiro for World Youth Day, said the Local Organizing Committee. A statement from the committee said the pope recognized “the great effort made by the Local […]
by Marie Elena Giossi Local devotees of St. Anthony of Padua received a special gift this Advent – the opportunity to see and venerate relics of their beloved saint. As part of a world tour marking the 750th anniversary of the discovery of St. Anthony’s remains by St. Bonaventure, the relics have visited England, Ireland, […]
Despite a winter storm, St. Athanasius Church, Bensonhurst, went ahead with its Winter Wonderland extravaganza Dec. 14. The Choir from St. A’s performed prior to Mass and afterward outside the church.
A girl in St. Peter’s Square holds Baby Jesus figurines for Pope Francis to bless during his Angelus at the Vatican, Dec. 15. Children observed an annual tradition by bringing their Nativity figurines for the pope to bless.
VATICAN CITY (CNS) – If Germans are known for being punctual, it turns out even their trees show up early. This year’s Christmas tree from Bavaria’s Bohemian Forest was scheduled to arrive on the feast of St. Nicholas, Dec. 6. Instead, cameramen and photographers had to scramble Dec. 5, when images starting showing up on […]
by Cindy Wooden VATICAN CITY (CNS) – The lights glowing on the Christmas tree in St. Peter’s Square, like Christmas lights everywhere, are reminders that Jesus is the light of the world, Pope Francis said. While he did not attend the Vatican’s tree-lighting ceremony Dec. 13, the pope personally thanked the German donors and their […]
by Francis X. Rocca VATICAN CITY (CNS) – In another wide-ranging interview with an Italian journalist, Pope Francis denied he was a Marxist but said he took no offense at the label; dismissed the notion of women cardinals; and reflected on Christmas as an occasion of joy, tenderness and hope. The pope made his remarks […]
Joined together in prayer and song, the school community of Our Lady of Guadalupe, Dyker Heights, recently celebrated its decades-old Christmas Gift-Giving Day tradition. Sponsored by the Student Council, the annual program encourages students and faculty to provide gifts of toys and clothing to children ranging from newborns to teenagers at two Brooklyn parishes: Our […]
Members of the Ravenswood Lions Club hosted a Christmas party for the young people of St. Mary’s religious education program, Long Island City. The party included gifts, treats and a visit from Santa Claus. One child, after watching a movie about St. Nicholas and seeing Santa, joyfully said, “I do believe in Santa, he is a […]
